Freeport Community Serviceshttp://www.fcsmaine.org
Neighbor Helping NeighborFri, 09 Feb 2018 15:22:16 +0000en-UShourly1We need your vote!http://www.fcsmaine.org/bangor-savings-bank-grant/
Fri, 02 Feb 2018 15:42:09 +0000http://www.fcsmaine.org/?p=1358Your vote matters. Have you voted for your favorite nonprofits? We are in the race to win a portion of the over $100,000 Bangor Savings Bank is giving to some lucky nonprofits. Help us receive a $5,000 grant from The … Continue reading →

Your vote matters.

Have you voted for your favorite nonprofits?

We are in the race to win a portion of the over $100,000 Bangor Savings Bank is giving to some lucky nonprofits. Help us receive a $5,000 grant from The Bangor Savings Bank Foundation, so we can help the communities we serve.

Keeping our Neighbors Warm
& Free from Hunger.

The FCS “Freeze Out” will be on Saturday, Feb. 17th, from 10am - 6pm. This is our 14th annual day of raising money for the Carol Kaplan Fuel Fund and gathering food for the FCS Food Pantry to help Freeport and Pownal citizens get through the long Maine winter.

Freezin' volunteers will be staying outside all day at 40 Main St. (First Parish Church), Shaw's, Bow Street Market and other locations on Main Street to raise awareness of poverty and hunger in Maine. We will be collecting non-perishable food and personal care items, as well as financial gifts, for the Food Pantry and Carol Kaplan Fuel Fund.

Also, from 9am-2pm, we will also be at Shaw’s Supermarket in Freeport for our “Stuff the Bus” event supported by Shaw’s and the Freeport Rotary.

How you can help:

Stop by the Freeze-out crew with a donation and a warm smile! They'll be collecting non-perishable food or personal care items at Freeport Community Services (53 Depot Street, Freeport) on February 16th from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm or at the First Parish Church at 40 Main Street on February 17th from 10 am to 6 pm

Make a financial gift or collect donations for Freeport Community Services. Donations may be dropped off during the Freeze Out at the First Parish Church from 10 am to 6 pm on February 17th or at FCS by 4 pm on February 16th (53 Depot Street).

Stop by and “Warm your heart” with our volunteers during the Freeze Out!

]]>The Fall Newsletter is Here!http://www.fcsmaine.org/newsletter-fall-2017/
Wed, 15 Nov 2017 01:43:13 +0000http://www.fcsmaine.org/?p=1297The Fall 2017 Newsletter is hot off the presses! The paper edition should hit mailboxes in the middle of November, but if you haven’t received the newsletter in the mail yet, or want to get a jump on it, you … Continue reading →

]]>The Fall 2017 Newsletter is hot off the presses! The paper edition should hit mailboxes in the middle of November, but if you haven’t received the newsletter in the mail yet, or want to get a jump on it, you can read it here!

Be sure to sign up for the newsletter mailing list, so you stay in touch with the goings-on at FCS!

]]>2017 Annual Meeting was a great success!http://www.fcsmaine.org/2017-annual-meeting-great-success/
Tue, 24 Oct 2017 19:29:04 +0000http://www.fcsmaine.org/?p=1280A wonderful evening of community for the 2017 Annual Meeting The 2017 Annual Meeting was a great success on Monday, October 23rd! Our community turned out to recognize one of our wonderful volunteers, Edrol Sandy, for his time and energy, … Continue reading →

A wonderful evening of community for the 2017 Annual Meeting

The 2017 Annual Meeting was a great success on Monday, October 23rd! Our community turned out to recognize one of our wonderful volunteers, Edrol Sandy, for his time and energy, and to hear an engaging presentation by guest speaker Jessica Maurer on “Building Communities That Last a Lifetime”.

]]>White Nights is coming soon!http://www.fcsmaine.org/white-nights-coming-soon/
Mon, 23 Oct 2017 19:10:20 +0000http://www.fcsmaine.org/?p=1292FCS’ Annual White Nights gala celebration will be held on Thursday, January 25, 2018 at the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Freeport. The location and day is a new focus to generate a larger more diverse attendance. A brainstorming group met … Continue reading →

]]>FCS’ Annual White Nights gala celebration will be held on Thursday, January 25, 2018 at the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Freeport. The location and day is a new focus to generate a larger more diverse attendance. A brainstorming group met to come up with suggestions for improvements to the event. As a result, the new space will allow more flexibility for additional features and amenities to the event. Feedback from the Board, attendees, staff, and past committee members/participants supported the change.

This is FCS largest event fundraiser and the 2017 event raised over $34,000 to support the organization. Again this year, we will have online auction to broaden the reach about the organization and the generous donors. It will be on the nonprofit online bidding site BiddingforGood.com. With local online bidders, as well as, bidders from as far away as Kansas and California for the last one, the goal is to expand the number of items to bid online to encourage more bidding.

We’re busy gearing up. We’re excited about the opportunities and look forward to seeing you in person and online. Check back on the FCS website for more details or contact Nancy Trottier, Events and Communications Coordinator at 865-3985 x 220 or ntrottier@fcsmaine.org for more information.

FCS was honored on Monday night at the Portland Museum of Art as the "6 Who Care" 2017 Agency of Distinction. The 18th Annual News Center "6 Who Care" recognizes outstanding volunteers for their contributions to their communities.

We are thrilled that they recognized the work FCS does for Freeport and Pownal. Three of our founders, Vaughdella Curtis, Betsy Ruff and Cheryl Smith were able to attend and were proud that after 44 years FCS is still going strong and being recognized!

Look for a link of the vignette they produced for each winner soon! In the meantime, here are a few photos from the evening.

]]>FCS is “6 Who Care” Agency of Distinction for 2017http://www.fcsmaine.org/freeport-community-services-chosen-6-care-agency-distinction-2017/
Tue, 10 Oct 2017 23:21:41 +0000http://www.fcsmaine.org/?p=1262The 6 Who Care is an annual recognition made possible by WCSH6, and United Way of Greater Portland and sponsored by TD Bank and Dead River Company. For 2017, there are six award winners: 5 outstanding volunteers and the Agency … Continue reading →

The 6 Who Care is an annual recognition made possible by WCSH6, and United Way of Greater Portland and sponsored by TD Bank and Dead River Company. For 2017, there are six award winners: 5 outstanding volunteers and the Agency of Distinction award, for an outstanding nonprofit agency. Freeport Community Services is proud to announce that they have been chosen as the 2017 6 Who Care Agency of Distinction.

“We are so proud to have been chosen for this award. As a hidden gem in the heart of Freeport, the selection committee’s recognition of the work we do in Freeport and Pownal means a great deal to us.” said Paula Paladino, Executive Director.

Criteria that agencies must outline, measure and/or demonstrate include: number of people of people served, types of services offered, new or emerging needs in the community, successful and effective solutions to address them, and how the clients or community have benefited from the organization.

With strong competition with other applicants in the agency of distinction category, Freeport Community Services, was selected based on “the organization’s comprehensive and innovative services to the community, dedication to engaging volunteers, and commitment to demonstrating results” as outlined in the award announcement.

Freeport Community Services (FCS) traces its beginnings back to the 1970’s, when a group of local women decided to start an organization to help their friends and neighbors in need. They were not wealthy, but simply compassionate, entrepreneurial residents who knew they could make a difference. They created a space in a room above a volunteer's garage and collected furniture and clothes for those in need. Today, 44 years later, FCS continues the mission of “Neighbor Helping Neighbor” in Freeport and Pownal.

Volunteer award winners are presented with a cash award to be donated to the charity of their choice. The Agency of Distinction award is a $2,000 contribution to the organization. In addition, WCSH6 creates a video presentation on each winner which will be broadcast sometime in the Fall.

The presentation ceremony will be held on October 16th at the Portland Museum of Art.

]]>Vote for FCS for the Town & Country Better Neighbor Fundhttp://www.fcsmaine.org/vote-fcs-better-neighbor-fund/
Tue, 10 Oct 2017 18:21:22 +0000http://www.fcsmaine.org/?p=1247Town & Country Federal Credit Union will be giving away a total of $25,000 to eight charitable causes in Southern Maine that receive the most votes on Town & Country’s Better Neighbor Fund Facebook page. Voting begins on October 2nd … Continue reading →

]]>Town & Country Federal Credit Union will be giving away a total of $25,000 to eight charitable causes in Southern Maine that receive the most votes on Town & Country’s Better Neighbor Fund Facebook page.

Voting begins on October 2nd and ends on October 31st. The winners will be selected based on which organization receives the most votes, so spread the word on why your organization’s project is deserving of a grant. Our grant would be used to support our Baby Book Bag program. This program offers welcome baby bookbags to each newborn in Freeport and Pownal.

We encourage you to vote once a day for FCS during the month of October so we will have a better chance of winning one of the eight grants. Grant supporters can visit the TCFCU Facebook page to vote:

]]>Chowdah Challenge 2017 is here!http://www.fcsmaine.org/chowdah-challenge-2017/
Wed, 04 Oct 2017 02:47:25 +0000http://www.fcsmaine.org/?p=1226We’re gearing up for the 24th Annual Freeport Community Services Chowdah Challenge on Saturday, October 7th from 11 am to 2 pm! It’s a fantastic day at the L.L.Bean Home store where big crowds of locals and visitors from afar … Continue reading →

We’re gearing up for the 24th Annual Freeport Community Services Chowdah Challenge on Saturday, October 7th from 11 am to 2 pm!

It’s a fantastic day at the L.L.Bean Home store where big crowds of locals and visitors from afar come to sample and vote for Freeport Maine’s best chowder. Each year local restaurants generously donate their traditional and gourmet clam and seafood chowders to benefit Freeport Community Services programs.

Ten restaurants will compete for two coveted awards: The People’s Choice Award and the Judges’ Award for “Best Chowdah”. Cost is $10/per person, and all proceeds will go to support FCS. Last year, we had 600 people sample great chowder and we sold out!